Teaching Comparative Government and Politics

Friday, April 29, 2011

More voting in Nigeria

Voting in the two northern states most beset by violence took place two days after most governors were elected. Voters were scarce, according to reporters.

Comments about attacks on traditional rulers in the north are new to me and might be a sign of important change in the political culture.

And while we looking at these results, you might ask your students to compare the results of governor's election to the results of the presidential election. Colored maps would be a good way to do that.

Few people vote in northern Nigeria states

Small crowds of voters nervously cast ballots Thursday in two states in oil-rich Nigeria hit hard by religious rioting that killed at least 500 people following the nation's presidential election.

The polls remained calm in Bauchi and Kaduna states, though noticeably fewer voters turned up to take part in the delayed gubernatorial elections…

The gubernatorial races carry tremendous importance because governors represent the closest embodiment of power many ever see in a nation of 150 million people. The positions provide many politicians with personal fiefdoms where oil money sluices into unwatched state coffers that exceed those of neighboring nations…

But the roots of the sectarian conflict across the north often have more to do with struggles for political and economic dominance. Opportunities remain few for those in the arid north, as jobs are scarce and a formal education remains out of the reach of many in a nation where most earn less than $2 a day.

Many burned the homes of traditional rulers across the north in the postelection violence, something once unthinkable in a region that values the advice of elders.

"They feel their leaders betrayed them," said Aliko Mohammed, a leader in a forum of northern leaders.

Most states taking part in gubernatorial and local elections cast ballots Tuesday. Initial results announced on the state-run Nigerian Television Authority showed opposition parties took at least two states from ruling party People's Democratic Party, while it picked up Kano state...

Guber Polls - PDP Shocks the North

Against expectations of serious opposition challenge during the gubernatorial election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has won several states in the northern part of the country and regained control of Kano State, a hitherto All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) stronghold.

The PDP won in Kebbi, Katsina, Kano, Kwara and Jigawa states, while the opposition ANPP retained control of Borno and Yobe states.

The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) perceived as a major challenger to the PDP has so far won only Nasarawa State in the North central zone.

Meanwhile, in the South-West zone, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) swept Ogun and Oyo states and retained control of Lagos State, now a traditional stronghold of the party.

In the South-East, the PDP won Enugu and Ebonyi states and is expected to retain control of Abia state.

The PDP also posted resounding victories in Rivers and Akwa-Ibom states in the South-South zone of the country.

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Labels: elections, Nigeria, politics